(1) The North Star (D.Salvatore)

Chapter Two

Caroline Forbes awakes and rises. She yawns and stretches. The temporary pain of her bones popping making her wince. Caroline looks over to her wardrobe and instantly notices a flaw in the items on her wardrobe. She pushes the covers off of herself, and stands up. She exits her room, and marches over to the bathroom, having heard commotion from there. She immediately finds her mother. Leaning on the door's frame and smiling as she looks into the bathroom.

"Mom?! Did you borrow my blue nail polish?" Liz makes a face and gestures to the bathroom.

"Your answer is in here." Caroline walks up to the bathroom door and peers inside. Almost immediately, she rushes in. Hugging and smothering Mickey with kisses on his cheeks and forehead. He makes a face and shoves her off of him.

"Care! Your going to ruin my nails. They haven't dried yet!" Mickey stresses, blowing on his nails in an attempt to quicken the drying process. He could use magic, but Caroline was present, and Liz doesn't want Caroline knowing about the supernatural. He raises his hand out in front of him, admiring his nails. "I was right. Blue really does go with everything."

"It doesn't go well with green, but it does go with ruby." Liz comments, referring to his red jacket as ruby. There's a story behind it. Mickey is obsessed with furry jackets and Liz got him a big red jacket. It was too big for him to wear, but he kept it in his closet, promising to one day wear ruby, his red jacket. Caroline hums in agreement.

"Now get out. I have to get dressed for school." Caroline helps him up and out of the bathroom. Mickey groans, and checks his nails to make sure they're okay. His nails are fine, the polish seems to be dried and the light shade of blue compliments his red jacket and light blue jeans. Caroline slams the bathroom door shut and Mickey makes a face.

"I didn't even tell her the worst news." Liz gives him a look. "I'm going to Mystic Falls High."

"Don't be dramatic."
..........................................

Mickey knows he should have stayed home. He wraps his fingers around the scraps of his bag. He is currently walking beside Caroline in the crowded hall of Mystic Falls High School. He was being bombarded with heys and how are you doing and we missed yous. He didn't expect this type of welcome back. Caroline gasps and grabs Mickey's hand pulling him in the direction she's going. Her blonde hair swinging behind her, hitting Mickey in his face a few times.

"So, Mick, be nice. I know you like having an attitude but Grayson and Miranda died and--"

"Wait what. When?"

"When doesn't matter. Right now, we have to be there for Elena." Caroline tells him as they walk up to Elena who's with Bonnie, at their lockers. The two are staring at Matt Donovan. "Elena. Oh, my god." Caroline goes up and hugs her. "How are you? Oh, it's so good to see you." Caroline says, nodding her head. She then turns to Bonnie, who smiles awkwardly. "How is she? Is she good?" Elena leans to the side, attempting to enter Caroline's view.

"Caroline, I'm right here." Caroline turns to her and smiles. "And, I'm fine, thank you."

"Really?" Elena shakes her head a few times.

"Yes, much better." Caroline hugs her again.

"Oh, you poor thing. Mickey come and comfort her." Mickey manages a smile, as Bonnie and Elena turn to him, finally noticing him.

"Mickey? Oh, my god." Bonnie smiles and hugs him. "It's been so long. Like seven years?"

"Eight." He smiles and hugs her back. He won't admit it. But he misses this. The hugging. The conversations. Their smiles. He pulls back from the hug and Bonnie looks over him.

"You've grown." Mickey playfully rolls his eyes.

"Ha ha." Bonnie chuckles and Mickey moves over to Elena. "Hey girl. Hope you're doing okay. With all that's going on. I won't say sorry for your loss. We're big kids now. And you're probably tired of hearing it." They both chuckle and hug. Elena missed Mickey. No one knows. But Mickey has a way with words, and always seems to know and understand how people are feeling.

"You're right. You always know the best things to say. That's what I love the most about you." She smiles and pulls away from the hug. Caroline smiles and pulls Mickey towards her, looping their arms together. 

"Okay. We'll see you guys later?" Caroline questions, wanting to head to class.

"Okay, yeah." Elena smiles and waves at the leaving siblings. "Bye." They vanish into the bustling crowd of students in the hall. "Why can't Jeremy and I be like that?" Mickey and Caroline walk up to their lockers. Having pushed a few students out of their way. Their lockers happen to be next to each other. Caroline pulls her phone out of her purse and starts texting away.

"Who are you texting?" 

"Mom. You need a phone. Teenagers practically live on them." Caroline stops texting. Noticing a guy in a leather hoodie jacket walk by. Mickey turns to him, and hums. A vampire. The boy is covered in death. It surrounds his aura, like a dog circling a cat. Mickey looks away from him.

"He's hot." Caroline turns to him and smiles.

"This is why I love you so much, Mick."